World Cup Takeaways: Group Stage
Photo by Troy Taormina from Reuters
The 2026 World Cup, the first ever with 48 teams, has completed its group stage.
And, much like every World Cup, there have been some obvious results, but also some stunning ones.
Let’s go through each group, discuss who has advanced and who hasn’t, and what teams impressed, and which disappointed.
Teams in bold and italics are those who advanced to the knockout rounds.
Group A
Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Czechia
Impressed: South Africa
South Africa is not a soccer nation historically.
In fact, they’ve only qualified on merit three times ever (they automatically qualified in 2010 because they hosted), and they’ve never qualified for the knockout round.
And even though this is a new era of the World Cup and 32 teams advance from the 48, they looked horrible in the opening game against Mexico, and it felt like their time in North America would be short lived.
But they drew against Czechia due to a late penalty kick, and then pulled off a stunning win against South Korea on the final matchday to finish 2nd in the group and make the knockout round no matter what.
What started terribly ended amazing, and now they become one of the most dangerous teams of knockout play.
A team with nothing to lose.
Disappointed: Czechia
It’s not like Czechia is this world powerhouse in soccer, but with the new rules of some third place teams making the knockout rounds, three points is possibly enough to get you into the knockout stages.
They started against South Korea and suffered a late loss. But that’s ok. South Africa was next, and that should be a win.
Nope. A draw.
But that’s ok. They can still get out of the group if they simply beat a Mexican team that had already clinched the group and had nothing to play for, and would likely be resting players.
But even that went poorly, losing 3-0 and being knocked out in the group stages.
It was a terrible World Cup for a team that sometimes looks quite promising in these tournaments.
Group B
Switzerland
Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar
Impressed: Switzerland
I was worried after the first game for the Swiss.
They dominated Qatar, but ended up dropping points thanks to a 90th minute tying goal from Qatar.
That should have been the easy one. Now they face tougher matchups against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then Canada on the final day.
But they dispatched Bosnia and Herzegovina easily, and then pulled out a nervy win against Canada to win the group.
This could have gone very poorly, but they pulled out a group stage win in the end.
Disappointed: Qatar
I’ll admit.
I don’t watch the Asian Cup a lot.
So I don’t know exactly what it is that makes it happen, but Qatar has won the last two Asian Cups.
This competition includes teams like Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
Qatar has back to back wins.
And that’s really shocking if you, like me, have really only watch this team in the 2022 and 2026 World Cup, where they’ve looked terrible.
Though I should be fair.
At least they got a point in this World Cup…
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Scotland
Haiti
Impressed: Brazil
People older than myself remember a Brazilian team that, every time the tournament came around, was a threat to win the World Cup.
In my soccer fandom (2006-ish until now), Brazil was still a threat, but was nothing more than just fine overall.
Even 2014, their best finish in that time frame, wasn’t the most convincing semi-final run, and ended in humiliation, losing 7-1 to Germany.
And when they got this draw, I frankly thought they could lose the group to a very good Morocco team.
But they looked solid against Morocco, and did exactly what you should do against Scotland and Haiti.
Beat them soundly, and leave the group as winners.
I’m still not sure they’re a threat to win it all, but they look good so far.
Disappointed: Scotland
As mentioned above, 8 of the 12 third place teams will make the knockout round.
Before the tournament, smart math people said that three points should be enough to get you out of the group.
And after Scotland got their win against Haiti and a tight loss to Morocco, all they needed to do was not get beaten down by Brazil to ensure goal difference stays on their side, and they’d be fine to get out of the group.
But because of a 3-0 loss to Brazil, their goal difference fell to -3, and that wasn’t enough to get them through in the end.
Typical Scotland, really.
Group D
USA
Australia
Paraguay
Turkey
Impressed: USA
I was low on the U.S. heading into this tournament.
Because the US auto qualified for the tournament due to hosting, we didn’t really have any important competitive matches. So we never got to see a real Mauricio Pochetino squad with something to fight for.
All we saw was friendlies, and frankly, I didn’t love what I saw.
But the performances against Paraguay and Australia were excellent, and even in the last second lost to Turkiye with a rotated squad, there were still glimpses of great play.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
Disappointed: Turkey
They got their big win against the host nation in the last second, and that’s genuinely a great moment for them to look back on, but this tournament can’t be considered anything other than a disappointment for the Turks.
Widely considered a dark horse going into the tournament, they set a record for the most shots (62) without scoring a goal in their first two games, resulting in two losses, and meaning their entire tournament was over before they even faced off against the U.S.
If anything, a win in that game might end up hurting more knowing that they let a massive opportunity slip.
Group E
Germany
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
Curacao
Impressed: Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast has never made the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
Not even in their golden era when they had Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, and Gervinho.
But this year, they finished second in the group and made it to the knockouts for the first time ever thanks to wins over Curacao and Ecuador.
Hell, they even had Germany on the ropes for a bit.
They have looked good so far in this tournament.
Disappointed: Ivory Coast
Saying they had Germany on the ropes is an understatement.
The Ivory Coast was ahead 1-0 late into the game and had multiple high quality chances to score again and put the game away.
Even tied 1-1 super late, they had a perfect chance on goal where they didn’t even get a shot off.
It’s good that they made it, and they should be thrilled, but the group was there to be won.
They let it slip.
Group F
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Tunisia
Impressed: Netherlands
I didn’t have much doubt that they’d get out of the group. They were clearly the best team.
But what swayed me on them in this group was their demolishing 5-1 win over Sweden.
Sweden is far from a bad squad, and Holland completely tore them apart.
If they can shore up their defense just a bit, they’re for real.
Disappointed: Tunisia
On the opposite side of Holland, I didn’t expect anything from Tunisia.
And even still, I was disappointed.
Three games. Three losses. 12 goals allowed.
One of the worst World Cup performances I have seen maybe ever.
Thanks for coming, fellas.
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
Impressed: Iran
Iran has had a very complicated tournament, considering they have been stationed in Mexico for training and had to play in a country that is currently at war with them.
Despite that, they fought hard, did what they needed to do, and got three draws to give themselves a chance to get out of the group stage. They even almost got a win against Egypt to advance but were just a hair offside for the goal.
Unfortunately, due to what we will get to later in this post, they didn’t end up qualifying.
But you can’t knock the effort.
Disappointed: Belgium
Look. They won the group.
At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
But one win and two draws in a group where you are far and away the clear cut favorite is not exactly giving me a ton of confidence in Belgium going forward.
Group H
Spain
Cape Verde
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Impressed: Cape Verde
I picked Cape Verde to finish last in this group.
Frankly, I think a lot of people did.
But three draws was enough for them to finish second in the group and make the knockout round in their first ever World Cup appearance.
It wasn’t sexy, but they did what they needed to do, and showed the world why the World Cup is so great.
They didn’t win a single game, and yet we cheered and celebrated as if they had won every single one.
Congratulations, Cape Verde.
Disappointed: Uruguay
Putrid display.
I know this isn’t the golden era of Uruguayan soccer, but they were in a group where all they needed to do was simply be better than Cape Verde, who is in their first ever World Cup, and Saudi Arabia, who isn’t a good soccer nation themselves.
They couldn’t do it.
And not only that, but they couldn’t even muster enough points to be one of the highest ranked 3rd place teams.
Just horrendous.
Group I
France
Norway
Senegal
Iraq
Impressed: Norway
Soccer is a team sport.
Even though Erling Haaland and Martin Oodegard are fantastic players, that’s just two of 11 in a pretty tough group.
But they handled Iraq easily, and handled Senegal easily, and finished second in the group because of it.
They even got to rest starters against France because it’d give them an easier knockout round game.
That’s a pretty nice luxury.
Disappointed: Senegal
Again, they made it out of the group, and that’s all that matters.
But they had multiple chances to take the lead of France in their first game that they didn’t take, and then France ran away with it, and fell short to Norway where they needed a big win against Iraq to ensure they’d make the knockout rounds.
They got it, but it hasn’t been a great World Cup so far from the reigning African Cup of Nations Champions*
* Well, they were. And they might be again. You can look up what happened with them against Morocco it’s too long to explain here.
Group J
Argentina
Austria
Algeria
Jordan
Impressed: Austria & Algeria
The final match of the entire group stage was Austria and Algeria, and, because of past results, it set up where a draw would send both teams to the knockout round, and the loser would be sent home with Iran making the knockout round.
I thought we were going to get a 1982 West Germany vs Austria situation, where they basically didn’t even play the game, because a draw would send both teams through.
But that’s not what happened this time around. Both Austria and Algeria came to play, tried to score, and ended up giving us one of the matches of the tournament, which ended up being a 3-3 draw so both advanced anyway.
Kudos to both of them.
Well, mostly one of them…
Disappointed: Algeria
Into the 90th minute, it was a 2-2 game, and it felt resigned that both teams would draw.
Algeria wasn’t moving the ball quickly. Austria wasn’t trying to press. They played 90 minutes of hard soccer, and decided this is just how it should end.
That is, until Algeria, out of nowhere, hit Austria hard and fast in the 94th minute to score and take a 3-2 lead, advancing them and knocking out Austria.
Now, that’s their right to try to win the game. I don’t have a problem with that.
To be honest, I don’t really have a problem with them baiting their opponent into taking their foot off of the gas and then scoring the goal.
But it’s still kind of rude, and it felt like justice that Austria still managed to get a last second equalizer to tie the game up.
Group K
Columbia
Portugal
DR Congo
Uzbekistan
Impressed: DR Congo
DR Congo is exactly why I love the World Cup.
They got a surprise draw against Portugal, and then beat Uzbekistan on the final day to make the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
They face England next, and that’s probably going to go poorly, but who cares?
They’re there. The fans experienced history for their nation, and they loved every second of it.
Not to mention, it wouldn’t be the first time England inexplicably lost…
Disappointed: Portugal
Portugal might be the most talented team in this tournament.
But they started the tournament with a disappointing draw to DR Congo, beat a terrible Uzbekistan team (and had the best player in their history screaming “I’m back” as if scoring against Uzbekistan means anything), and were a toenail away from losing to Columbia on the final day.
Regardless, they didn’t win the group, and now their road to the final is significantly harder because of it.
They just continue to disappoint at World Cups.
Group L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
Impressed: Ghana
Three points could possibly be enough to make the knockout rounds as a third place team in this newly modified version of the World Cup, and that’s what I thought Ghana would be looking at in this group, likely losing to England and Croatia.
And while they did lose to Croatia, they held on for a draw against England (and probably should have gotten a win if a penalty had been called late in the game as it should have been), but that draw and a win over Panama was enough to get them 4 points and make the knockout round.
Just had to get one.
Disappointed: Nobody
Who am I supposed to be disappointed by in this group?
England for not losing a game?
Croatia for losing to England but easily handling Ghana and Panama?
Panama for not doing well in a group they were heavy, heavy underdogs?
This group played out exactly how I expected to. It’s hard to be disappointed with anyone.
